Akai MPC 2000 (Classic) Studio Plus unboxing video on 24th year anniversary of ownership (Oct 31st)

Akai MPC 2000 Studio Plus original owner. I purchased this Akai MPC 2000 Studio Plus (version with factory installed SMPTE, 8 outputs, and effects) on October 31st, 1997, about 4 months after launch date. I paid $2499 + taxes.

Prior to ownership, in 1994, I went to a recording studio that used an Akai MPC 60 II, as their midi sequencer/sampler. Although I didnt used it, since I didnt know how to operate it. I saw the engineer use it and how easy it seemed to put together my musical composition. I was blown away by it. That was my first introduction to MPC midi sequencers/samplers.

I wanted to buy an MPC 60 II for personal use. Which prompted me to call Akai, to get more information about it. They told me that it is out of production and was replaced with their MPC 3000. So I started looking for recording studios that had an MPC 3000. I figured that I should practice on one before I save up $3700 to buy one.

A few months later, I found a recording studio that was within my teenager budget. The owner and engineer, Brad (RIP) showed me how to operate his MPC 3000, ASR 10, Korg o1/w, Tascam DA88s, and taught me music production. So I kept going to that studio, bimonthly, for two consecutive years. After that, I saved up enough money to buy studio equipment, including an MPC 3000.

I couldve bought my first car. But I didnt mind taking the bus or bumming a ride in order to buy studio gear. It was struggle during that time. But it worked out great.

When I went shopping for a brand new MPC 3000, I saw an ad for a brand new MPC 2000. There were 3 variants, that was priced from $1,499 to $2,499. I went for the fully loaded one.

I preferred the look of the 2000 because the pads were on the right side, it was smaller, weighed a lot less, and it had features that MPC 3000 didn’t have. Such as graphic display and wav file compatibility. So I can load sounds off the internet and view the wave image of the sound. Thats when I made the purchase.

Years later I wondered why Roger Linn’s signature was missing from MPC 2000s. But ultimately found out that he was no longer partnering with Akai.

24 years after purchase and my MPC 2000 is still working as it did when I purchased it.

I figured that I do a one time unboxing video to mark the anniversary (which was actually yesterday,. Especially, since I tend to keep all the packaging of everything that I buy. So I put everything back in the box for the video.

I use my MPC 2000 daily and it is till my sole midi sequencer and sampler for music production.

Only issue that I ever had with it is the burnt screen. I repaired that issue earlier this year. It costed the price of a razor blade, bottle of adhesive remover, and piece of polarizer film (about the size of the LCD screen). The polarizer film was purchased off eBay for under $10.